Thatcher Death Forces BBC To Chart ‘Oz’ Track

Scene From 'Oz'

UPDATE 4/13/13 6AM: BBC Radio will not play the full "Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead" song during the Official Chart Show on Sunday, Radio 1 controller Ben Cooper announced. Instead they will play a clip as part of a news item about the "Wizard of Oz" track, which has been adopted by anti-Margaret Thatcher Brits.

 

Earlier Posting....

BBC Radio 1 is planning to play Ding Dong the Witch is Dead, the Wizard of Oz track being bought by anti-Thatcher protesters in the wake of the former prime minister's death, on its chart show on Sunday.

However, according to The Guardian, the BBC chart show is considering having a Newsbeat reporter explain why a song from the 30s is charting to Radio 1's target audience of 16- to 24-year-olds – none of whom will remember Margaret Thatcher's controversial premiership.

In what could be seen as the first major test for the new director general, Tony Hall, BBC insiders said the track is likely to be played if it makes it into the top of the charts in defiance of criticism from Tory supporters.

The Official Charts Company said on Thursday morning that Ding Dong the Witch is Dead was on course to reach number four, up from 10 the previous day.

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